Districts:
South Oxfordshire Parishes
Elsfield
The following wildlife habitats fall within this parish. They are listed according to their associated landscape type or local character area.
If you want more information about any of the sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs) listed below, take a look at English Nature's Nature on the Map website. It may also be possible to find out a bit more about the unnamed wildlife habitats in the parish by contacting the Thames Valley Environmental Records Centre (owls@oxfordshire.gov.uk) and quoting the site code next to the habitat description.
The majority of these wildlife habitats are on private land and access to them is not possible without permission of the landowner, unless there is a statutory right of way. However, many wildlife habitats in the county are open to the public. More information on these can be obtained from the Oxfordshire Nature Conservation Forum.
Wildlife Habitats
Wooded Farmland
Site Code: 51F03
Area: 9.5ha
This site is ancient woodland which means it has been continuously wooded for at least 400 years. It retains the classic composition of old woodland with a canopy and shrub layer of native trees and shrubs and a rich variety of wildflowers on the ground. Such woodland is a national priority for nature conservation.
The woodland canopy is composed mainly of oak and ash and the shrub layer has much hazel coppice*. The coppice is actively managed. The ground layer has much dog’s mercury and areas of bluebells which is typical for ancient woodland. Other wildflowers present include good numbers of the uncommon water avens and early purple orchid.
*Coppicing is a traditional form of management where small multi-stemmed trees and shrubs are cut down to the ground at regular intervals producing a harvest of small branches.